If you’re calling from a mobile phone, you may need to press the “+” sign on the keypad before or instead of “00. ”[1] X Research source
If the phone number you wish to dial is listed online, in a directory, or spoken to you including the number 1 before the area code and next seven digits, you don’t need to dial the “1” more than once. For example, you would dial 00-1-(###)-###-####, not 00-1-1-(###)-###-####.
A U. S. area code is always a three-digit number, and is often listed in parentheses before the following seven digits of the phone number, like so: (###)-###-####. A U. S. toll-free number replaces the area code with one of the following codes: 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844. [3] X Trustworthy Source Federal Communications Commission Independent U. S. government agency responsible for regulating radio, television, and satellite, and phone communications Go to source However, toll-free numbers will not be free when calling from outside the U. S. , and in fact may not work at all when dialed. Instead, call a company’s alternative, standard phone number. [4] X Research source Note that a person’s area code may not be the same as their physical location in the United States if they’ve moved but kept the same phone number, or bought a phone in a different area than the one they live in.
A U. S. area code is always a three-digit number, and is often listed in parentheses before the following seven digits of the phone number, like so: (###)-###-####. A U. S. toll-free number replaces the area code with one of the following codes: 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844. [3] X Trustworthy Source Federal Communications Commission Independent U. S. government agency responsible for regulating radio, television, and satellite, and phone communications Go to source However, toll-free numbers will not be free when calling from outside the U. S. , and in fact may not work at all when dialed. Instead, call a company’s alternative, standard phone number. [4] X Research source Note that a person’s area code may not be the same as their physical location in the United States if they’ve moved but kept the same phone number, or bought a phone in a different area than the one they live in.
All U. S. phone numbers contain ten digits total, with three for the area code plus the remaining seven digits, like so: (###)-###-####. Note that you should not include any special characters like “#,” “-,” “(,” or “)” even though they may appear in these examples or wherever the number you are trying to dial is listed.
Download Skype for free on a smartphone, tablet, or computer to immediately begin calling other Skype accounts for free. If you want to use Skype to call a regular U. S. phone number, add Skype Credit to your account to pay as you go, or select a monthly subscription to save on frequent calls. [6] X Research source Make sure you are connected to a computer or phone with high-speed internet when you make calls from Skype, as the audio and video quality will be better and more reliable with a good connection. Note that if you use a mobile app for Skype on a phone or tablet that is not connected to WiFi, you will incur data charges. Check with your phone or SIM card provider on these charges, or purchase a plan with unlimited or a large amount of data if you plan to use phone apps frequently without an internet connection.
Use these services on a computer or through free apps for your mobile phone or tablet. Remember that if your phone is not connected to the internet, you will incur data charges for the calls you make on the network. Try out different services to see which one you like the best, as they all have slightly different features. Or, you might choose an app based on whether your U. S. contacts also have it or can get it, because then your calls to them are free.
If you can, test out the app before you are abroad in the UK to get familiar with it. Make sure you have a good internet connection and, if possible, use the same device you’ll use to connect while abroad. You might want to be prepared with a reliable microphone and pair of headphones for making your calls from the UK, particularly if you are using an older computer that doesn’t have a microphone or speakers built in, or you want to be able to make hands-free mobile calls.
Ensure that the cell phone you want to bring to the UK is a GSM phone (global cellular technology used by most of the world) and it’s unlocked, meaning that it doesn’t have a restriction on being used with other providers. [7] X Research source AT&T and T-Mobile carry GSM phones which are typically unlocked. [8] X Research source Look for a UK mobile provider that carries a SIM card that will fit in your phone. Most mobile phones have a standard SIM card size, but iPhones and other newer smartphones use special micro or nano SIM card sizes. [9] X Research source You can set up an international calling plan through your current U. S. phone carrier, but note that these plans are typically very expensive. Whether you choose an international call plan or the SIM card route, make sure to call your U. S. provider to change or suspend your service and ask any questions you may have before traveling to the UK.
Check the pricing on the plan to make sure you know what the rates are for international calls. Check the data usage rates on a smartphone if you plan to use it for internet calling apps. Most pay-as-you-go SIM card plans for mobile phones in the UK come with a small amount of prepaid minutes for calls, and then you can “top up” with more minutes over the phone or at a kiosk for the network provider. The major mobile phone networks in the UK are Vodafone, T-Mobile, Virgin Mobile, O2, and Orange. Shops like Car Phone Warehouse and Phones4U sell inexpensive phones from several different networks. [11] X Research source
Purchase an international calling card from grocery stores, post offices, or phone shops in the UK to reduce the cost of frequent international calls. Generic international calling cards can usually be used with either landlines or mobile phones. [12] X Research source To use an international calling card, you typically will dial an access number found on the back of the card, then a unique PIN number, and finally the phone number you wish to dial. [13] X Research source
